Correlation Between Serum Leptin Concentration and Disease Activity in Normal Body Mass Index Premenopausal Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background. Leptin is recognized as a cytokine-like hormone with pleiotropic actions in modulating immune responses. The role of leptin in pathogenesis of systemiclupus erythematosus (SLE) was not fully understood yet. Previous study did not fi nd the correlation between serum leptin concentration and disease activity in patients with SLE, but selection of the subjects wasn\u27t based on the classifi cation of body mass index (BMI) and menopausal status.Objective. To determine correlation between serum leptin concentration and the disease activity in normal BMI premenopausal women with SLE.Methods. Serum leptin concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and disease activity was scored using Mexican SLE disease activity index (Mex-SLEDAI). Spearman\u27s correlation coeffi cient test was used for evaluating the strength of association between leptin level and Mex-SLEDAI score.Results. Seventy normal BMI premenopausal women with SLE were included in this study. The median of serum leptin concentration was 13.4 (0.6 – 45.9) ng/ml.The median serum leptin concentration in patients with active disease was 12.4 (0.6 – 41.6) ng/dl, whereas in patients with inactive disease was 15.2 (3.9 – 45.9) ng/dl.No signifi cant different was found between serum leptin concentration in active and inactive disease (p = 0.14). A weak negative correlation was observed between leptinconcentration and Mex-SLEDAI score, but not statistically signifi cant (r = -0.22; p = 0.07).Conclusion. No correlation was found between serum leptin concentration and disease activity in normal BMI premenopausal women with SLE. Prednisone doses anddisease duration might interfere

Prevalence of albuminuria and cardiovascular risk profile in a referred cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes: An Asian perspective

Background: Microalbuminuria (MA) is a risk marker for diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) in patients with diabetes. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of albuminuria, CV risk factors, and treatments for renal and CV protection in an Asian population with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in eight Asian countries enrolled normotensive/hypertensive adults with type 2 diabetes without known proteinuria and/or non-diabetic kidney disease. Exclusion criteria were type 1 diabetes, menstruation, pregnancy, and acute fever. A single random urinary albumin/creatinine test was carried out in all patients. Results: Of 8,561 patients, 14% had diabetic retinopathy, and 17% and 21% had history of CV disease and smoking, respectively. Normoalbuminuria was seen in 44%, MA in 44%, and macroalbuminuria in 12%. Target glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (<7%) was reached in only 37% of 3,834 patients with available values. Diabetes was managed by diet alone in 6%, while others received oral hypoglycemic drugs and/or insulin. In total, 75% did not reach target blood pressure (BP) of ≤130/80 mm Hg. Antihypertensive drugs were prescribed to 52%, with the number of drugs increasing as the level of systolic BP increased. Drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system were most commonly prescribed, followed by calcium channel blockers. Lipid-lowering drugs and anticoagulant/antiplatelet agents were used in about 30% and 25% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Asian patients with type 2 diabetes had a high prevalence of MA and reduced kidney function. Furthermore, BP and HbA1c control was only achieved in a minority of patients. Aggressive risk management by administration of reno- and cardioprotective treatments is urgently needed. © 2008 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.published_or_final_versio

Correlation between serum leptin concentration and disease activity in normal body mass index premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background. Leptin is recognized as a cytokine-like hormone with pleiotropic actions in modulating immune responses. The role of leptin in pathogenesis of systemiclupus erythematosus (SLE) was not fully understood yet. Previous study did not fi nd the correlation between serum leptin concentration and disease activity in patients with SLE, but selection of the subjects wasn’t based on the classifi cation of body mass index (BMI) and menopausal status.Objective. To determine correlation between serum leptin concentration and the disease activity in normal BMI premenopausal women with SLE.Methods. Serum leptin concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and disease activity was scored using Mexican SLE disease activity index (Mex-SLEDAI). Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient test was used for evaluating the strength of association between leptin level and Mex-SLEDAI score.Results. Seventy normal BMI premenopausal women with SLE were included in this study. The median of serum leptin concentration was 13.4 (0.6 – 45.9) ng/ml.The median serum leptin concentration in patients with active disease was 12.4 (0.6 – 41.6) ng/dl, whereas in patients with inactive disease was 15.2 (3.9 – 45.9) ng/dl.No signifi cant different was found between serum leptin concentration in active and inactive disease (p = 0.14). A weak negative correlation was observed between leptinconcentration and Mex-SLEDAI score, but not statistically signifi cant (r = -0.22; p = 0.07).Conclusion. No correlation was found between serum leptin concentration and disease activity in normal BMI premenopausal women with SLE. Prednisone doses anddisease duration might interfere

The correlation between hs C-reactive protein and left ventricular mass in obese women

Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations are increased in obese individuals. In this study, we examined the correlation between hsCRP and left ventricular mass (LV mass). Fourty five healthy obese women and fourty five healthy non obese women as the controls group were studied by echocardiography and hsCRP. There was no significant correlation between hsCRP and left ventricular mass in obese women (r = 0.29, p 0.06). There was a significant correlation between hs CRP and body mass index (r = 0.46, p 0,002), and also hsCRP and visceral fat (r= 0.33, p 0.03). (Med J Indones 2006; 15:100-4)  Keywords: hs C-reactive protein, LV mass, obese wome

Acarbose improves glycemic control and reduces body weight: Subanalysis data of South Asia region

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) are widely used especially in Asian countries as a treatment option for type 2 diabetes patients with high postprandial glycaemia. However, data from South Asia region is very limited. In order to examine the effect of AGI in real-life setting, 10 PMS/NIS from all over the world from the launch of acarbose to date were pooled in one database and exploratory analysis was performed for glycemic parameters and weight. In total 62,905 patients were pooled from 21 countries and regions. Mean follow up (± SD) was 12.2 ± 4.8 weeks (range 0.1-108.9). From South Asia region (India and Pakistan), 8,738 Asian patients were enrolled. Mean PPG decreased from 240.0 and 261.1 mg/dl at baseline by 70.26 ± 65.10 and 82.96 ± 56.59 mg/dl at the last visit in total and South Asian populations, respectively (n = 53,883; n = 7,991, P < 0.0001 for both). Mean FPG decreased from 171.6 and 176.5 mg/dl at baseline by 38.48 ± 47.83 and 49.59 ± 41.41 mg/dl at the last visit in total and South Asian populations, respectively (n = 56,672; n = 7,837, P < 0.0001 for both). Mean HbA1c decreased from 8.4 and 8.4% at baseline by 1.11 ± 1.31% and 0.91 ± 0.93% at the last visit in total and South Asian populations, respectively (n = 38,843; n = 2,343, P < 0.0001 for both). Mean relative reduction of body weight (BW) was 1.40 ± 3.28% and 1.10 ± 3.39% at the last visit for mean baseline BW 73.6 and 74.2 kg in total and South Asian populations, respectively (n = 54,760; n = 7,718, P < 0.0001 for both). Consistent with RCT meta-analyses, post-hoc analysis of real-life data showed acarbose treatment improved glycaemic control and reduced the BW. Acarbose treatment in real life setting showed significant reductions in all glycemic parameters and BW in Asian patients from South Asia region

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, improves glycamic control and reduces body weight in type 2 diabetes: Findings on indian patients from the pooled data analysis

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are widely used especially in Asian countries as a treatment option for type 2 diabetes patients with high postprandial glycemia (PPG). The higher carbohydrate in the Indian diets lead to greater prandial glycemic excursion, increased glucosidase, and incretin activity in the gut and may need special therapeutic strategies to tackle these glucose peaks. This is the subgroup analysis of Indian subjects who participated in the GlucoVIP study that investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of acarbose as add-on or monotherapy in a range of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 1996 Indian patients were included in the effectiveness analysis. After 12.5 weeks (mean), the mean change in 2-hour PPG from baseline was −74.4 mg/dl, mean HbA1c decreased by -1.0%, and mean fasting blood glucose decreased by -37.9 mg/dl. The efficacy of acarbose was rated "very good" or "good" in 91.1% of patients, and tolerability as "very good" or "good" in 88.0% of patients. The results of this observational study suggest that acarbose was effective and well tolerated in the Indian patients with T2DM

Time-in-range and frequency of continuous glucose monitoring: Recommendations for South Asia

Background and aim: The prevalence of diabetes is on its rise and South Asia bears a huge burden. Several factors such as heterogeneity in genetics, socio-economic factors, diet, and sedentary behavior contribute to the heightened risk of developing diabetes, its rapid progression, and the development of complications in this region. Even though there have been considerable advances in glucose monitoring technologies, diabetes treatments and therapeutics, glycemic control in South Asia remains suboptimal. The successful implementation of treatment interventions and metrics for the attainment of glycemic goals depends on appropriate guidelines that accord with the characteristics of the diabetes population. Method: The data were collected from studies published for more than the last ten years in the electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar on the various challenges in the assessment and achievement of recommended TIR targets in the SA population using the keywords: Blood glucose, TIR, TAR, TBR, HbA1c, hypoglycemia, CGM, Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and diabetes. Results: The objective of this recommendation is to discuss the limitations in considering the IC-TIR Expert panel recommendations targets and to propose some modifications in the lower limit of TIR in older/high-risk population, upper limit of TAR, and flexibility in the percentage of time spent in TAR for pregnant women (GDM, T2DM) for the South Asian population. Conclusion: The review sheds insights into some of the major concerns in implementing the IC-TIR recommendations in South Asian population where the prevalence of diabetes and its complications are significantly higher and modifications to the existing guidelines for use in routine clinical practice